Six Ways to Embrace the New Year

Let's look at six fabulous ways to embrace the New Year! Though many people consider Samhain to be the beginning of the witch’s year; the start of the calendar year is also a good time for reflection, setting intentions and starting new projects.

It is a great time to start afresh; and actually, to do some shadow work.

We all deserve to find peace and joy in our lives.

Sometimes that starts with the decision to be happy.

Let’s consider the opportunities a new calendar year brings, and start the year off with some magick - make a positive statement below and know that it will be affirmed when other people like, share, tag, read the post and comment - keeping your positive statement spinning.

I’ll go first. “This year I will be healthy.”

What do you want to usher in? What changes are you going to make this year? Do you allow yourself to be happy? 

NEXT - Happy New Year!
NEXT - Personal Magick: Happy New Year 2020 
NEXT - Six Common Crystals for Wealth

Simple Magick: Power Flow for August

Each month of the year has a different energy and focus.

August is all about enjoying the sun and the vitality of good health. Enjoying friendships and relationships. Reaping and harvesting the fruits of your labour, and just rewards - whether good or bad.

What do you associate August with?

Remember that magickal associations are forged through the connections we make with our magickal tools/relationships- your correspondences may look quite different to mine.

NEXT - Intention: I Call Back My Power
NEXT - Lughnasadh Blessings: Welcoming The Harvest 

Intention: I Call Back My Power

In this moment, I call back my energy and power from all people, places, realms, entities, dimensions and situations that have been draining me; intentionally or otherwise. I call back my energy and power; and stand firm. Safe, sovereign, balanced, calm and protected. And so it is.

NEXT - Winter - A Time For Rest & Regeneration
NEXT - Review: Witch Charms by Quirky Cinnamon 
NEXT - Fabulous Folklore: Hecate On The Hell Staircase 

Simple Magick: Spell-Working Ethics

The ethics of spellworking are there to help us create fair, considered and effective spells. They are a set of principles that can help us avoid harming ourselves and others.

Selfish and irresponsible spellwork often bounces back on the caster, known as the Boomerang Effect (not to be confused with the Threefold Law, which is a code of conduct that I will explain later).

Good ethics for magick/spellcasting can be summed up as follows:

1. Never work to harm anyone, including the self. 

2. Never manipulate anyone against their will or natural development. 

3. Never assume you know all the facts about a situation or person.

4. Never work for your own gain at someone else’s expense.

5. Word spells carefully and precisely, so that rules 1-4 may be observed.

The Wiccan ethical motto “An it harm none, do what thou wilt” does not mean “anything goes”, it means “have your legitimate aim clearly in mind, and work to achieve it.”

Ethical spellworking is not centred around power, or self-gain for selfish reasons. It is a positive action focused on fruitfulness, problem solving and progression. It is not angry, arrogant or destructive; instead it is designed to flow in a state of balance and harmony to bring about positive results.

NEXT - Simple Magick: Baphomet Explained
NEXT - Simple Magick: The Mind
NEXT - Introductions: From One Witch To Another 

Simple Magick: Birthday Rituals

Birthdays. What do you think of them?

I think of them as being a bit liminal. You have just completed a year’s cycle, and you are just starting a new year’s cycle; but you haven’t completed much of that journey. So whilst they might not be completely liminal, they do feel like an in-between to me. Not quite here, not quite there. But that’s just my own viewpoint.

I find them to be a reflective time, and carry an energy similar to some of the festivities in the Wheel. I find myself looking back at what I have (or have not) achieved, and what I want moving forwards.

I’ll be honest, birthdays are often a deeply difficult time for me. As I grow older I find these occasions more emotional. It is not the process of growing older. That is something I absolutely cherish, and I’m aware it’s a privilege denied to many; but it’s the realisation of the passing of time, and how I might have done things differently that plays on my mind. Even if many of these things have been beyond my control.

I take the day before a birthday to collect myself and get my thoughts in order. In the evening I sometimes do a little magick. On the day I often have a little cry, before getting on and enjoying it. I can’t help it, it’s just how these things flow.

Birthdays are an excellent time to create/perform self-love rituals. There’s no-one who can love you more than you!

Things you can include in a birthday ritual:

Pampering

Letters to the old, or new, you 

Releasing or letting go of old habits, behaviours, and thoughts 

Plans, ideas, intentions and wishes 

Journaling 

A special gift from you to you!

One thing I always concentrate on the day before a birthday is this thought:

We have immense personal power, and once we realise this, it’s much easier to tap into it. We have all the tools we need at our disposal to achieve anything we desire. We have the ability to transmute the airy energy of ideas, and manifest them into something solid, something real. What am I going to create? What do I want to achieve? What am I going to do?

What month is your birthday? Do you think they’re a good time for magick? Do you have any special birthday rituals?

NEXT - Simple Magick: Experiencing The Land Wights
NEXT - Simple Magick: 10 Easy Witchy Self-Care Activities
NEXT - Poppy Magick: Correspondences 

Witchy Quotes: Anthon St. Maarten

“Dare to dream! If you did not have the capability to make your wildest wishes come true, your mind would not have the capacity to conjure such ideas in the first place. There is no limitation on what you can potentially achieve, except for the limitation you choose to impose on your own imagination. What you believe to be possible will always come to pass - to the extent that you deem it possible. It really is as simple as that.”

~ Anthon St. Maarten 

NEXT - Witchy Quotes: Arin Murphy-Hiscock - The Green Witch
NEXT - Simple Magick: Magickal Beliefs & Attitudes
NEXT - Word Magick: The Season of The Witch

Simple Magick: The Childlike Mindset During Spell Casting

There is a wonderful quote in this book ~ Spells and How They Work by Janet & Stewart Farrar ~ from Susa Morgan Black, where she stresses the importance of a childlike frame of mind during spell-working:

“In their minds, children can make anything happen; and sometimes, what the children play at, actually manifests itself in their life. This has happened to me many, many times... Little by little we are discouraged and belittled out of that state of mind, in order to Grow Up. I feel that magic is a return to that wondrous state that “anything can happen”, and that frame of mind is the one we seek to create magick. The closer we can come to that mindset, the more effective our rituals and spells become.”

I’m outside enjoying the sunshine and fresh air this morning, whilst pondering this quote. What do you enjoy that is considered childlike? Do you remember to return to this frame of mind during spell-casting?

NEXT - Simple Magick: 6 Simple Snow Spells 

Moon Magick: 7 Words for The New Moon in Virgo

I’ve been feeling a bit frazzled and under the weather recently, and the approaching energy of yesterday’s New Moon in Virgo definitely brought with it a need to rest physically, mentally, and spiritually.

New Moon is a time to reset and reconnect; and I definitely needed to some time to reconnect with myself. The New Moon is also a brilliant time to declutter, tidy, and organise.

So yesterday I did a little self-care spell and took a much needed pause. Today feels like a huge weight has been lifted from my shoulders, and so I spent this morning sorting out some unwanted clothes for the charity shop, and writing some lists. The path ahead is now clear again!

REST

RESET

RELEASE

REPLENISH

RECHARGE

REFLECT

RECONNECT

What have you done to rest, reset, release, replenish, recharge, reflect, or reconnect this New Moon? 

NEXT - Moon Magick: Full Super Moon in Scorpio
NEXT - Review: Channel Your Goddess Energy by Kirsten Riddle

Pagan Holidays: Lughnasadh

A blessed Lughnasadh everyone!

The first of three harvests, this time of year feels somewhat paradoxical; the Sun is at its zenith, but waning. The crops have reached their peak, but will soon be cut. The bounty of our land is at full swing, but soon it will be winter. This is a time of great abundance, but also loss.

It’s a time to give thanks; a time to reap what you have sown, literally and metaphorically, and to celebrate and share what you have achieved.

I baked my own recipe ~ Wren’s Lughnasadh Bread ~ to celebrate this special sabbat. Whilst I kneaded it, I reflected on what I have achieved this year, and what seeds I would like to sow for next year. I kneaded in my intentions.

This recipe will be available in the Lughnasadh (August) issue of Witchology Magazine @witchologymag - so be sure to check it out. 

NEXT - Journaling: Harvest Reflections for Lughnasadh 

NEXT - Turning the Wheel - Samhain is Coming

Moon Magick: Full Super Moon in Scorpio

“Everybody has a little bit of the Sun and Moon in them. Everybody has a little bit of man, woman, and animal in them. Darks and lights in them. Everyone is part of a connected cosmic system. Part earth and sea, wind and fire, with some salt and dust swimming in them. We have a universe within ourselves that mimics the universe outside. None of us are just black or white, or never wrong and always right. No one. No one exists without polarities. Everybody has good and bad forces working with them, against them, and within them.”

~ Part Sun and Moon by Suzy Kassem.

Enjoy the energies of the last Supermoon of the year everyone! This powerful Full ‘Flower’ Moon is in Scorpio, at 1135hrs today for those of us in the U.K.

Arguably this is the most intense Full Moon of the year; Scorpio is the sign that deals with all the deep stuff - intimate connections, deep emotions, and mysticism. Of course it’s also a time for letting go of things that don’t serve you; and for making intentions. Be patient with yourself, and honour whatever emotions you are feeling right now.

Full Moon blessings everyone.

NEXT - Moon Magick: The Snow Moon

Moon Magick: Full Moon Intentions

The full moon and the days surrounding it herald powerful energy. The full January Wolf Moon (a Supermoon) occurs on the 10th January 2020 at 19:21hrs.

I always write my intentions two or three days ahead of the full moon, so that I have plenty of time to ruminate and ponder them. I have some deeper intentions that I want to manifest written on a second page, but as these are deeply private I have chosen not to show these.

The full moon is always a good time for embracing and dealing with the emotions that are brought to the surface at this time. It is also a time to practice forgiveness - of yourself and others - and for releasing negativity.

This Wolf Moon is in Cancer, which is the most emotional of all the signs, and also my Sun Sign, so this is a particularly emotional and deeply personal time for me. 

There will be a full lunar eclipse, giving the Supermoon a red glow; a phenomenon known as a Blood Moon. Clearly there are lots of very strong energies at this time, so this is a perfect moment for intention setting.

I hope you all have a very blessed and productive Wolf Moon. 

NEXT - Moon Magick: New Moon Baths  
NEXT - Intention: I Call My Power Back
NEXT - Simple Magick: The Shadow

Simple Magick: Cosmic Ordering & The Law of Attraction

You can do (or have) absolutely anything your heart desires. We all have it within us to achieve our dreams. The Law of Attraction and Cosmic Ordering are real, and work. I have manifested quite a few things over the years which, on paper, seemed totally impossible.

There are a few simple steps to manifesting whatever you’d like:

Step 1: Get clear on what you want. Be really, really precise because the Universe will fill in the gaps!

Step 2: Make your intent known to the Universe by politely asking for what you’d like.

Step 3: Know it will happen. Don’t use up energy thinking about the how/ifs/why/buts. Dismiss any thoughts that wander into a negative space. Know and believe that it WILL happen. Feel it in your heart, soul, body, mind - there is no room for anything else here.

Step 4: Work towards your goals. Keep your vibration high.

Step 5: Receive. Be grateful, and give thanks.

In the meantime, go about your day believing you can do (or be) absolutely anything. Hold your head high. You are a divine being.

NEXT - Simple Magick: A Witch's Altar

Personal Magick: Happy New Year 2020

Happy New Year everyone!
I hope you welcomed in the new year in the way that you’d like. For me that was an early night so that I was fresh enough to enjoy the first day of 2020.

I have spent some time reflecting on the past year, and looking ahead to the coming months; making intentions, and dreaming and wishing.

Last March I gave up alcohol. I wasn’t a big drinker (the reason for stopping was supporting someone else), but it has been quite an eye opener. I feel more open, creative, and connected to the world. There hasn’t been a single negative to quitting.

According to health writer Jason Christoff:

“In alchemy, alcohol is used to extract the soul essence of an entity. Hence its’ use in extracting essences for essential oils, and the sterilization of medical instruments. By consuming alcohol into the body, it in effect extracts the very essence of the soul, allowing the body to be more susceptible to neighboring entities most of which are of low frequencies. Why do you think we call certain alcoholic beverages ‘Spirits’? That is why people who consume excessive amounts of alcohol often black out, not remembering what happened. This happens when the good soul (we were sent here with) leaves because the living conditions are too polluted and too traumatic to tolerate. The good soul jettisons the body, staying connected on a tether, and a dark entity takes the body for a joy ride around the block, often in a hedonistic and self serving illogical rampage. Our bodies are cars for spirits. If one spirit leaves, another can take the car for a ride.
Essentially when someone goes dark after drinking alcohol or polluting themselves in many other ways, their body often becomes possessed by another entity.”

And so I’m going to continue with the sobriety. I have definitely felt more creative, and I have a few ideas up my sleeve... but you will all have to watch this space for those.

How has your New Year been so far? Do you have any exciting plans for the year ahead? What achievements from last year are you proud of?

NEXT - Personal Magick: My Story On Finding Witchcraft
NEXT - Simple Magick: More Ways To Connect With The Land
NEXT - The Lord's Prayer: A Pagan Prayer?